The debate over whether or not to make daylight saving time (DST) permanent has been happening for years, with both advocates and opponents pointing to various research and arguments in support of their positions. This blog post aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the pros and cons of making DST permanent in the United States so that readers can form their own informed opinion on the issue.
Tomorrow marks the end of daylight saving time in 48 states and DC, and this will result in a 25-hour day. The tradition of setting clocks forward by an hour during springtime dates back over 100 years, but today many experts argue that it disrupts our circadian rhythms and leads to negative impacts on physical and mental health. Studies have shown that people tend to get less sleep when they lose an hour due to the time change, leading to issues like fatigue and difficulty concentrating. In addition, people are more likely to experience mood disorders such as depression during times when daylight saving is observed.
On the other hand, some experts point out that abolishing DST could actually have some positive results. Research indicates that if DST were done away with there would be a reduction in crime rates due to increased visibility when it’s light outside for longer periods of time during the evenings. Furthermore, energy costs could be reduced with fewer lights being turned on after sunset throughout the summer months. Additionally, studies have found that ending DST can lead to fewer car crashes as people adjust better to driving in darkness earlier in the evening without having their biological clocks are thrown off balance from changing clocks forward by an hour twice a year.
In March 2020 the Senate passed The Sunshine Protection Act which seeks to make DST permanent; however, it has stalled in House following public backlash from 1974 when a similar attempt was made before. Ultimately, it’s up to lawmakers at both state and federal levels as well as citizens across America who must decide if they think that making DST a year-round event is beneficial or detrimental for everyone involved.
Taking all these factors into consideration, one must weigh all pros and cons before coming down decisively on either side of this debate – while greater visibility during late evenings may reduce crime rates, it can also lead to disruption of our natural body clocks which affects physical health as well energy consumption nationwide. Ultimately only careful deliberation over facts provided by unbiased scientific sources can determine whether or not moving towards making DST permanent would be beneficial for all Americans or detrimental for some groups more than others.